The Friends of Freshwater Inc is a ‘Not for Profit’ Registered Organisation managed by a group of locals who share an interest in our local community and express concerns, news, history and events as it may impact our local area. As well the Friends of Freshwater Inc. publishes
“The Duke” Newsletter as a service to its membership and the wider Freshwater community. All the views and opinions expressed in it are those of the Executive of FOF Inc.
Friends of Freshwater Inc.
Image courtesy Aaron Birch
Achievements and Successes
INTRODUCTION
ACHIEVEMENTS
- Formally established a viable, long running community, not for profit, with a committed membership.
- Good Urban Planning in Freshwater including contribution to Village, Soldiers Avenue of Honour and Beach Reserve Master Plans as well as close scrutiny of all significant Development Applications and zonings over the last decade.
- Upgrading community amenities including:
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- Established a team of bush regenerators that have provided 600 hours of voluntary bush regeneration over the last four years to rejuvenate native bushland on Freshwater Beach’s southern headland.
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- Working with other Freshwater organisations to refurbish the Freshwater Anzac Precinct of the Soldiers Avenue of Honour and Jacka Park using the Centenaries of Anzac, Armistice Day and the Avenue of Honour as a focus for major community events and improvements
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- Creating a vibrant community garden from an under-used, sloping, Crown Reserve in Queenscliff with more than 5 years of committed voluntary labour from 50 community gardeners.
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- Successful 8-year campaign for Public toilets in Jacka Park
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- Estimated $300k cost of removal of Overhead HV Power Lines in Soldiers Avenue to protect the canopy and longevity of heritage listed trees.
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- New foot pathing for the full length of the northern side of Soldiers Avenue to enable safe pedestrian access and further historical interpretation.
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- Preserved the integrity of Crown land at Mckillop Park by stopping the proposed installation of an Optus 4G tower on the Headland
SUCCESSES
- Establishing and sustaining a decade-long, large, community, not-for-profit group for the Freshwater community.
- Funding and delivering on community projects
- Garnering continued support from the three tiers of government
- Successfully modelling urban sustainability initiatives
- Exemplifying the benefits of collective volunteer initiatives
- People often comment that they have moved to Freshwater because of its “sense of community”
- Successfully campaigned against large-scale inappropriate developments and telecommunication installations
OBJECTIVES FOR 2022
- With a focus on good urban planning, closely scrutinise all significant Development Applications in Freshwater for compliance with planning requirements. Directly lobby Council on procedural matters including the prevalence of complying development certification and effective community engagement.
- Hold regular meetings with elected Federal, State, Councillors and Council staff.
- Work closely with Council to implement, more expeditiously, the various projects within the Freshwater Coastal Reserves Master Plan including the upgrading of Beach reserve playgrounds and toilet facilities: completion of the missing segment of the coastal walkway from South Curl Curl Pool through to Freshwater Beach:
- Campaign for the conversion of the former Harbord Diggers eastern car park to green open space within McKillop Park and an upgrade of the World Surfing Reserve “Duke” site.
- Support Council to establish an outstanding piece of sculptured public art at Mckillop Park Lookout.
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- Continuing to support the growth of the Freshie Community Garden in Crown Reserve as a community amenity and model of urban sustainability.
- Work on establishment of a Freshwater Public Art Trail with a focus on Freshwater’s early settlers, soldiers and surfers at various sites in Freshwater.
- Continue to work with other stakeholder organisations to refurbish the Soldiers Avenue Honour following its Centenary Year in 2019, including publishing a comprehensive study on WW1 personnel and their families, removal of rogue camphor laurel trees, planting of their suitable replacements, upgrading the Jakka Park community war memorial and the insertion of more footpath memorial plaques.
- Get the provision of the basic necessities of life upgraded such as provision of fresh fruit and vegetables; public toilets, footpaths, safe vehicular traffic movement, pedestrian and cycle ways and public transport including suitable ferries.
- Call on Council to conduct heritage reviews of significant items of Freshwater’s infrastructure and architecture.
Community Projects
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Soldiers Ave of Honour
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